What exactly is umami?

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Why: Bob said the reason Heinz ketchup is so addictive to Americans is because it hits all 5 taste buds. An ensuing conversation went something like this:

C: It's just the 5th taste.
A: But what does it taste like?
I: It's, like, savory.
M: What is savory?
C: Like, kind of salty...
A: But there are already salty taste buds.
I: It's the opposite of sweet.

I don't know. (I also don't like ketchup.)

Answer: Here is what science says:

Taking its name from Japanese, umami is a pleasant savoury taste imparted by glutamate, a type of amino acid, and ribonucleotides, including inosinate and guanylate, which occur naturally in many foods including meat, fish, vegetables and dairy products. As the taste of umami itself is subtle and blends well with other tastes to expand and round out flavors, most people don’t recognize umami when they encounter it, but it plays an important role making food taste delicious.

Source: UMAMI Information Center

The More You Know: Have you been to Umami Burger yet? There are several, including one within spitting distance of the back door of my apartment. The one on La Brea doesn't sell booze, and also, the people who work there are snobby dickholes. Come to the one in Los Feliz! Try the Manly.